Immunomodulatory activity of ß-glucan-containing exopolysaccharides from Auricularia auricular in phagocytes and mice infected with Cryptococcus neoformans.

Current antifungal drugs present poor effectiveness and there is no available vaccine for fungal infections. Thus, novel strategies to treat or prevent invasive mycosis, such as cryptococcosis, are highly desirable. One strategy is the use of immunomodulators of polysaccharide nature isolated from mushrooms. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the immunostimulatory activity of ß-(1,3)-glucan-containing exopolysaccharides (EPS) from the edible mushrooms Auricularia auricula in phagocytes and mice infected with Cryptococcus neoformans. EPS triggered macrophages and dendritic cell activation upon binding to Dectin-1, a pattern recognition receptor of the C-type lectin receptor family. Engagement of Dectin-1 culminated in pro-inflammatory cytokine production and cell maturation via its canonical Syk-dependent pathway signaling. Furthermore, upon EPS treatment, M2-like phenotype macrophages, known to support intracellular survival and replication of C. neoformans, repolarize to M1 macrophage pattern associated with enhanced production of the microbicidal molecule nitric oxide that results in efficient killing of C. neoformans. Treatment with EPS also upregulated transcript levels of genes encoding products associated with host protection against C. neoformans and Dectin-1 mediated signaling in macrophages. Finally, orally administrated ß-glucan-containing EPS from A. auricular enhanced the survival of mice infected with C. neoformans. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that EPS from A. auricula exert immunostimulatory activity in phagocytes and induce host protection against C. neoformans, suggesting that polysaccharides from this mushroom may be promising as an adjuvant for vaccines or antifungal therapy.

Ação genotóxica e antiproliferativa de Polygonum punctatum Elliott (Polygonaceae) sobre o ciclo celular de Allium cepa L / Genotoxic and antiproliferative action of Polygonum punctatum Elliott (Polygonaceae) on the cell cycle of Allium cepa L

RESUMO: A espécie Polygonum punctatum Elliott (Polygonaceae) é amplamente utilizada pela população como planta medicinal. O objetivo deste trabalho é o de avaliar o potencial genotóxico e mutagênico de P. punctatum utilizando raízes de bulbos e radículas em sementes germinadas de Allium cepa através do teste in vivo, e realizar comparações da extração do material vegetal por calor (infusões) e extração a frio (extrato). Para isso, foram preparadas dois tipos de soluções, infusões e extratos foliares de P. punctatum, em duas concentrações 0,4 g mL-1 e 2,4 g mL-1. A infusão foi preparada pela adição das folhas secas em água destilada fervente (100ºC), permanecendo por 10 minutos enquanto o extrato foi preparado através da maceração das folhas secas em água destilada fria. Para o teste em A. cepa foram utilizados, para cada tratamento, seis grupos de quatro bulbos e seis caixas gerbox com 50 sementes em cada caixa. Duas lâminas para cada tratamento foram obtidas através da técnica de esmagamento das raízes e coradas com orceína acética 2%. Foram contadas 2000 células por grupo de bulbos e 3000 células por grupo de sementes, observando-se a ocorrência de interrupções em metáfases, alterações cromossômicas estruturais, bem como a inibição ou aumento da divisão celular. Os valores do índice mitótico foram calculados e analisados estatisticamente pelo Teste χ2 (p≤0,05). Os resultados demonstraram que as infusões e os extratos de folhas apresentaram redução nos valores de índices mitóticos nas concentrações utilizadas em relação ao controle em água destilada. Foram identificadas alterações cromossômicas na divisão celular, tais como pontes anafásicas, em todas as concentrações de infusões e extratos indicando assim que P. punctatum possui atividade antiproliferativa e genotóxica.

ABSTRACT: The species Polygonum punctatum Elliott (Polygonaceae) is widely used by the Brazilian population as a medicinal plant. The aims of this study are to evaluate the genotoxic and mutagenic potential of P. punctatum, using its root bulbs and rootlets in germinated seeds of Allium cepa by in vivo testing, and to compare the extraction of plant material by heat (infusions) and cold (extract). Thus, two types of solutions - infusions and leaf extracts - of P. punctatum were prepared at the two concentrations of 0.4 g ml -1 and 2.4 g mL- 1. The infusion was prepared by addition of dry leaves in boiling distilled water (100ºC), remaining for 10 minutes, while the extract was prepared by maceration of dried leaves in cold distilled water. For the A. cepa, we used for each treatment six groups of six bulbs and six seedling boxes with 50 seeds each. Two slides for each treatment were obtained by the technique of crushing the roots, and they were stained with 2 % acetic orcein. For the analysis, 2000 cells per group of bulbs and 3000 cells per group of seeds were counted, and we noted the occurrence of interruptions in the metaphase, chromosomal aberrations, as well as inhibited or increased cell division. The values of the mitotic index were calculated and statistically analyzed by the χ2 test (p ≤ 0.05). The results showed that the infusions and extracts of leaves showed reduced values of mitotic indices in the concentrations used compared to the control in distilled water. Chromosomal alterations were identified in the cell division, in all concentrations of infusions and extracts, thus indicating that P. punctatum has an antiproliferative and genotoxic activity.

Factors associated with emergency department visits due to acute asthma

It is important to identify characteristics related to poor disease control and frequent visits to the emergency department (ED). The objective of the present study was to compare the characteristics of patients attending the adult ED for treatment of asthma exacerbation with those attending an asthma specialist clinic (AC) in the same hospital, and to determine the factors associated with frequent visits to the ED. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of consecutive patients (12 years and older) attending the ED (N = 86) and the AC (N = 86). Significantly more ED patients than AC patients reported ED visits in the past year (95.3 vs 48.8 percent; P < 0.001) and had difficulty performing work (81.4 vs 49.4 percent; P < 0.001. Significantly more AC than ED patents had been treated with inhaled corticosteroids (75.6 vs 18.6 percent; P < 0.001) used to increase or start steroid therapy when an attack was perceived (46.5 vs 20.9 percent; P < 0.001) and correctly used a metered-dose inhaler (50.0 vs 11.6 percent; P < 0.001). The history of hospital admissions (odds ratio, OR, 4.00) and use of inhaled corticosteroids (OR, 0.27) were associated with frequent visits to the ED. In conclusion, ED patients were more likely than AC patients to be dependent on the acute use of the ED, were significantly less knowledgeable about asthma management and were more likely to suffer more severe disease. ED patients should be considered an important target for asthma education. Facilitating the access to ambulatory care facilities might serve to reduce asthma morbidity.

Factors associated with emergency department visits due to acute asthma.

It is important to identify characteristics related to poor disease control and frequent visits to the emergency department (ED). The objective of the present study was to compare the characteristics of patients attending the adult ED for treatment of asthma exacerbation with those attending an asthma specialist clinic (AC) in the same hospital, and to determine the factors associated with frequent visits to the ED. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of consecutive patients (12 years and older) attending the ED (N = 86) and the AC (N = 86). Significantly more ED patients than AC patients reported ED visits in the past year (95.3 vs 48.8%; P < 0.001) and had difficulty performing work (81.4 vs 49.4%; P < 0.001. Significantly more AC than ED patents had been treated with inhaled corticosteroids (75.6 vs 18.6%; P < 0.001) used to increase or start steroid therapy when an attack was perceived (46.5 vs 20.9%; P < 0.001) and correctly used a metered-dose inhaler (50.0 vs 11.6%; P < 0.001). The history of hospital admissions (odds ratio, OR, 4.00) and use of inhaled corticosteroids (OR, 0.27) were associated with frequent visits to the ED. In conclusion, ED patients were more likely than AC patients to be dependent on the acute use of the ED, were significantly less knowledgeable about asthma management and were more likely to suffer more severe disease. ED patients should be considered an important target for asthma education. Facilitating the access to ambulatory care facilities might serve to reduce asthma morbidity.

Modelizacion analogico-digital de la difusion de contaminantes y nutrientes en condiciones de regimen estacionario en el embalse de Termas de Rio Hondo

Se desarrolla una metodologia de modelizacion analogico-digital de los procesos difusivos en condiciones de regimen estacionario, de contaminantes y nutrientes de origen superficial y puntual, aportados por los tributarios al Embalse Frontal de Termas de Rio Hondo, Santiago del Estero, Argentina